How do resource smoothing and resource leveling differ from each other?
Resource smoothing aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs. On the other hand, resource leveling does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines.
The accompanying diagram, sourced from the APM Body of Knowledge, provides a comparison between the two approaches.
Resource levelling and smoothing options (APM, 2019, p. 179)
© Association for Project Management (APM) (2019) APM Body of Knowledge (7th edn), Princes Risborough: APM.
At a more significant level of impact, certain projects undergo more than just rescheduling or resource allocation adjustments. They may undergo a reevaluation of their project scope by the project sponsor. This involves a broader analysis of the entire project and requires reconsideration of how time, cost, and quality interact within the project.
A prime example is the review of large-scale infrastructure projects like railways. Such projects often undergo rescaling due to increased costs, resulting in significant deviations from the original plans. The consequences of these revisions can affect the client and a wider range of stakeholders and may even result in the loss of subsequent work opportunities (Kerzner, 2009, p. 529).
Now, let’s consider MTD, the water installation events company, and the Glasgow event that you have been following in the course videos thus far. When examining the provided figure, do you think it would be feasible to implement a resource leveling approach in this scenario?
Share your thoughts and join the discussion below.
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Resource leveling is best if the project is e.g. a water installation for the community. This may affect the deadline however it will allow the project to become successful and impactful in the long run.
Resource smoothing becomes relevant if the project is one like an event that is time-bound. Adding more time to the initial project would gravely affect the set-date event and hence adjusting a budget upwards becomes unavoidable and necessary.
In my own the best option for MTD water is resources smoothing as it aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs, other than resource leveling which does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling and this might have an impact on project deadlines.
On the MTD water project, resource smoothing will be the best approach to getting and maintaining the required quality while at the same time meeting the deadline but requiring an increase in cost.
Resource smoothing will be the best to apply as it focuses on maintaining the deadlines but increasing the cost.
Resource levelling can be applied in MTD water installation project because of the nature and event while resource smoothing can be applied in Glasgow project because of the fixed date that cant be adjusted.
Resource Smoothing focuses on maintaining project deadline while resource levelling focuses on preserving limited resources. The best approach for MTD is Resource Smoothing because it supplies water(nature of its business) so as to meet up with deadlines. Water is life!
No only smoothing can be applied
From the definition we can understand that the resource smoothing looks at preserving planned deadlines but increase the project cost while the resource levelling does not change the current capacity but focuses on rescheduling with a possible impact on project deadlines. While resource smoothing maybe considered best but we need to look at the increase in the cost of the project which actually impacts on project delivery. The resource levelling does actually reschedule but it has its advantages such as a stable workload which enhances and reduces the risk of stress; the cost advantage related to a steady distribution of resources cost overtime.
Also we need to understand that for flexibility of deadlines the scheduling of projects activities is within the available floats. For me I will apply the resource levelling approach so as to give the best quality in that project.
As a project manager the best option for MTD is Resource smoothing is the best option for the project because, they will still maintain the deadline to deliver the project and still maintain the quality of the project, in other to complete the project before the deadline though this may cost them more yet is far better than resource levelling because end users are waiting at the time scheduled.
From my own perspective the best option for MTD water is resources smoothing which aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs, other than resource leveling which does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphazises rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines.
Reply
Of course, its going to be feasible as project levelling does not alter the initial plan but build on it by reschedulling some activities withing its framework without altering the deadline.